Inflatable packer for external use on casing and liners and method of use



.April 8, 1969 G. E. AczoNovzaR 3,437,142

INFLATABLE PACKER FOR EXTERNAL USE 0N CASING AND LINERS AND METHOD OF USE med oct. 2a, 196s Sheet of4 ATTORNE Ys 2 4 4. f nl 0 n A, m 6 S e A h C S N OE s EU s uw N0 vww OTE NMM anw CWA L S RR .amm CI AL P Em Lun B A T m F 5 N I 9 1 6 l 9 l t 6 8 0 .nlu d w n i A F Geo/ye f. l(bryan/eff* ATTORLYEYS G. E. CONOVER 4 INFLATABLE PACKER FOR EXTERNAL USE oN 3,437,142 CASING April 8, 1969 AND LINERS AND METHOD OF USE Filld (Rit. 28, 1965 Sheet @eo/ye f. Canoa/ef' l NVEN TOR.

BY 1 f gni/ef ATTORNEXS G. E. ccmovrsla` 3,437,142 INFLATABLE PACKER FOR EXTERNALAUSE 0N CAS-ING AND LINERS AND METHOD 0F USE April 8, 1969 Filed oct. 2a, 196s sheet d of 4 I 7/ ll 7a '4 r 4 Al .A

s f E 7a @eo/ye f. Canova-v n l INVENTOR.

#W C@ M TTORNI'I YS United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 16o-277 29 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An inflatable packer arrangement for external use on casing tubular member or liners in bore holes.

The present invention relates to inflatable elements or packers used with casings, tubular members, or liners, and a method of setting the inflatable elements, casing, tubular members or liners in wells and various bore holes to accomplish desired results.

Description of the prior arl In some inflatable packer tool constructions heretofore used, the inflating of the elements is accomplished by manipulating pipe at the surface on which the element is supported in the well in order to inflate and deflate the inflatable element, as desired; other means of inflating the elements have been proposed.

In other forms of packer tools and packer elements which are used at the present time, the setting of the tools is accomplished by means of some mechanical manipulation of the operating pipe at the surface so that slips or other mechanisms are actuated to effect a squeezing action on the packer element in order to expand it into a seated position in the well. Of course, to accomplish this desired function, there must be available sulfcient pipe in the well upon which the packer element is supported to provide the necessary weight for the setting of the rubber and other mechanical mechanisms associated with packer tools.

Unfortunately, the last mentioned form of packer tool may have limited use in shallow wells because the length of pipe in the well does not provide sutiicient weight to effect the actuation of the mechanical setting and support mechanism. This form of packer is also limited in that there can only be a certain amount of radial expansion of the packer element when it is squeezed; therefore, the use of squeeze packers is restricted because it must be, first of all, small enough to move through the Well pipe, but large enough so that when the operating mechanism is actuated, it will expand radially sufficiently so as to engage with the well bore wall below the end of the well pipe.

Heretofore, diliiculty has been experienced in attempting to perform various operations in a well bore or other type bore hole in that it has been sometimes difficult to provide satisfactory means for effectively sealing otf between the casing, or liner, with an adjacent formation of a well bore or bore hole, under all conditions in which such result is desired.

Summary of the invention Briefly, the present invention relates to an inflatable, external casing, tubular member or liner packer which is run as an integral part of the casing, tubular member or liner, and which may be set in any desired position relative to formations by actuating a valve means which permits the inflatable element of the casing, tubular member or liner packer to become inflated which will thereby isolate, separate, or protect various formations from the remaining Well bore.

The present invention also relates to an inflatable element which is inflated externally of a casing, tubular member or liner, to effect a positive seal between the casing, tubular member or liner, and the Well bore and which utilizes a valve collar secured to the casing, tubular member or liner to communicate fluids from the inside of the casing, tubular member or liner, to an inflatable element on the outer surface of the casing, tubular member or liner, so that the element may be inflated and wherein a slidable seal is adapted to maintain the packer in an inflated and sealed position externally of the casing, tubular member or liner. While the present invention is limited to a description of only one packer element, it is to be understood that it may be desirable to use a plurality of packer elements in a manner which will be brought out hereinafter. Also, the present invention is described and illustrated in its use in oil or gaswells; but it may have application in any bore hole of any diameter in any field of use where it is desired to seal off between a casing, tubular member or liner, and an adjacent formation.

The present invention is directed to a tool construction which does not depend upon weight to set the inflatable element carried by the tool, nor does the present invention have the restrictions as to space required by some types of the squeeze-type packer.

The present invention is further directed to an inflatable packer element which can be set and anchored to the well bore by simple hydraulic pressure and does not require slips, drill strings, setting weight, or pulling tension as are well known in the art.

The present invention has for one of its primary objects an inflatable packer tool which is constructed and arranged to seal between a casing, or liner, and an adjacent formation in a well bore.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable packer tool arrangement including valve means for controlling inflation of the inflatable element which arrangement may be integrally incorporated with a bore hole casing, or liner, for sealing off between the casing, or liner, and adjacent formations in the bore hole.

Still another object of the invention is to integrally incorporate in a bore hole casing, or liner, an inflatable packer element and valve means for controlling ination of the inflatable element which may be actuated without manipulation of the casing, or liner, and without the use of other forms of mechanical manipulation.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a valve collar for incorporating in a casing, or liner, of a bore hole, which valve collar has a plurality of valve means in the annular wall thereof and which valve collar serves to anchor one end of an inatable element mounted externally of and slidable along the casing or liner upon iniiation thereof.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a valve collar for incorporating in a casing, or liner, of a bore hole, which valve collar has a plurality of valve means in the annular wall thereof and which valve collar serves to anchor one end of an inflatable element mounted externally of and slidable along the casing or liner upon ination thereof, there being sliding seal means incorporated with the inatable element for engaging the external casing, or liner as the element is inated to inhibit fluid leakage therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of relatively quickly and easily selectively isolating zones or formations in a bore hole.

A still further object of the invention is to provide methods of carrying out desired operations in a bore hole which require sealing off between a casing, or liner, and a bore hole.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a valve means in an inllatable element tool so as to maintain the element sealed olf in relation to any fluid as it is being lowered into the well, which valve means opens upon the application of fluid pressure to conduct fluid to the element to set it in the well bore.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a valve means in an inflatable packer tool whereby the valve means is substantially the only moving part and which valve means insures permanent inllation of the inatable packer tool, when desired.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a valve means for use with a packer tool wherein a predetermined amount of pressure is required to open the valve means so that inflating fluid may be conducted to an inflatable element carried by the packer tool.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inllatable element integrally carried by a borehole casing, or liner, and wherein the inflatable element may be expanded by liquid or by gas.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable element arrangement for bore hole casing, or liner, which can be easily set between the bore and casing, or liner, and which will remain permanently set over an extended period of time.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inllatable external casing packer for a bore hole which can be inflated with a cement slurry or any other desired fluid to thereby effect a positive seal between the casing and adjacent formation, which seal may be effected without the use of cement externally of the casing and adjacent the formation as normally employed at the present time.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable external casing packer for a bore hole which can be intlated with a cement slurry or any other desired fluid to thereby effect a positive seal between the casing and adjacent formation to inhibit channeling of cement which may be employed externally between the casing and adjacent formation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable external casing, or liner, packer which can be inflated with fluids that set either upon the passage of time or by chemical reaction and thereby are used to effect a positive, permanent seal between the casing, or liner, and the well bore.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a valve collar connected with a casing, or liner, with valve means therein to control communication between the interior of the casing, or liner, to an inflatable element mounted on and slidable along the outer surface of the casing, or liner.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a valve collar mounted integrally with a casing, or liner, which provides an anchor means for one end of an inflatable element surrounding the outer surface of the casing, or liner, the inflatable element being connected at its other end to a head spaced from the valve collar, the head forming a slidable sealing engagement with the casing, or liner, when the element is inllated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an external casing packer which acts as a hydraulic centralizer to assure better cementing and gravel packing.

Brief description ofthe drawings FIG. 1A is an enlarged quarter sectional view illustrating the upper part of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a broken continuation of FIG. 1A and showing the lower portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1B and illustrating one valve of the valve means;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional cross view taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 1B and illustrating another valve of the valve means;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1B diagrammatically illustrating the relationship of the valve means in the valve collar to the inllate passage;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view illustrating in somewhat greater `detail the preferred arrangement of the components of the inflatable element and the relationship of the inflatable element to the valve collar which serves to anchor one end of the inflatable element;

FIG. y6 is a schematic view illustrating how an external casing packer of the present invention may be set above a zone so that the zone may be isolated and tested in any suitable manner and then if such tests do not prove Satisfactory, the packer may be perforated so that a maximum amount of the casing may be easily recovered;

FIG. 7 is a schematic View illustrating a method of using a plurality of the external casing packers to straddle and permanently seal off a formation from the remainder of the bore hole;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating another use of external casing packers to isolate a weak or sensitive producing zone from cement set around the casing to prevent the cement from fracturing the producing zone;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating still another use of an external casing packer of the form of the present invention to enable a liner to be cemented in place above a shot hole without the necessity of first filling the shot hole with gravel;

FIG. l0 is a schematic view illustrating another use of a plurality of external casing packers of the present invention to isolate prepacked liners;

FIG. ll is a schematic view illustrating the use of the external casing packer of the present invention as a combination liner hanger and pack-off; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating the use of the external casing packer of the present invention for repairing damaged casing.

Description of the preferred embodiments'- As illustrated in FIGS. lA and lB of the drawings, the invention includes annular heads 11 and 12 which are spaced with the inflatable element 13 extending therebetween and which is secured to each of the heads 11 and 12 in a manner well known in the art. The upper head 11 is connected by threads 47 to a sub 14, and the sub 14 is connected by any suitable means such as the threads 1S thereon to a housing sub or collar 16 which extends upwardly from the sub 14 as shown in the drawings. The collar 16 receives the seal means 16a which contacts the outer surface 5a of the casing 5 as the inflatable element is expanded, as will be described in greater detail.

The well pipe or casing 5 extends ydownwardly into the well bore or bore hole. A valve collar 17 is connected integrally with and forms a part of the casing 5' and is connected to the casing 5 by the threads shown at 18 and 20. The valve collar 17 is also threadedly engaged by threads 19 to annular spaced head 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1B and serves to anchor one end of the inflatable element 13.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1B, 3, and 4, there is provided a passage 21 which has an -upper portion 21a and a lower portion 2lb, respectively, and an opening 22 in collar 17 for communicating the inner bore of casing 5 through the sub or valve collar 17 with the internal portion of the inflatable element 13. The passage portion 2lb as illustrated in FIG. 4 is stepped, and in bores, or valve pockets, which are transverse to, or interrupt the passage portion 2lb at each of the three steps is a series of valve imeans generally designated at 23 which include check valves 23a and 23b and back pressure shear pin valve 23e. A preferred form of the check valves 23a and 23b is illustrated in FIG. 3 as being of the spring-loaded double-sealed type and are provided with a spring 24, a valve member 25, and a plug 26 spaced from valve member 25 having an O-ring 27 for sealing between Ithe bore and plug 26. The O-ring seal 27 aids in maintaining pres=1 sure in the inflatable element 13 during and after it has been inflated. The spring 24 abuts the lower end of plug 26 and is received within and urges valve member 25, as shown in FIG. 3, to a closed position until the pressure from the casing through port 22 and passage portion 2lb overcomes the spring load of each valve 23a and 23b. The plug 26 of each valve is threadedly engaged in the end of each of the bores or valve pockets, and it is believed that the assembly of each valve in each bore or valve pockets is readily apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be noted that the bore, or valve pockets in the form of the invention illustrated provide access into the wall of the valve collar 17 to enable the valve, or valves, to be inserted within the valve collar Wall. The Valve member 25 may be provided with a resilient covering, if desired, as shown in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, there is provided a back pressure shear pin valve 23e in a third bore; and this valve is similar to valves 23a and 23b in that it has a plug 26 threadedly engaged in the outer end of a bore and is provided with an O-ring seal 30. The valve member 25 is provided with a bore 29, and a shear pin 28 engages element 28a which is received within bore 29, as shown in FIG. 2. The element 28a abuts the lower end of plug 26 and thus retains valve member 25 on its seat until the pressure thereon is suffi-cient to shear pin 28, whereupon valve member 2S moves upwardly so that element 28a ltelescopes into bore 29. A seat 31 is provided on the lower end of valve element 25.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the valve collar 17 is provided with three external openings designated at 17a, 17b, and 17c for affording outside access and easy installation, respectively, of the valves 23a, 23h, and 23C. It should be noted that the check valve 23a is nearest the opening 22, and therefore when fluid under pressure enters the opening 22 and passage portion 2lb and engages the first check valve 23a, the fluid pressure must be suicient to overcome the spring 24 before uid from the opening 22 will be permitted to pass beyond the first check valve 23a. The fluid will next engage check valve 23b which will operate in substantially the same manner as che-ck valve 23a, and after the fluid has activated check valve 23b to allow the fluid to move by the check vlave, the uid will then engage back pressure valve 23e and if the pressure is suliicient will shear the shear pin 28 which will thereby permit the back pressure valve to be opened and the fluid will move by the back pressure valve and thereby pass through passage portion 21a and enter annular, circumferentially spaced opening 32, better shown in FIG. 1B. Although there are three valves shown, it is to be understood that the present invention may be operated successfully with one valve or any combination of two of the valves such as by using two of the check valves 23a and 23b or by using a check valve such as 23a and the back pressure valve 23C. Thus, one valve or any combination of two of the valves will operate in a satisfactory and sufficient manner to permit the successful operation of the external casing packer; however, the preferred form is illustrated.

It is to be understood that after the spring-loaded check valves 23a and 23b have been opened by uid pressure, the back pressure or pressure originating from the inflated inflatable element 13 plus the force from the spring in each of the spring-loaded check valves 23a and 23h are suflicient to overcome the fluid pressure tending to hold them open; and when this occurs, the spring-operated check valves close to seal the fluid in the inated element 13. Thus, the element 13 is thereby permanently set in the bore hole. Of course, if a shear pin valve 23C is used, the uid pressure shears the `shear pin 28 of the valve; and it will not close or block the flow of fluid in the inflated passage thereafter.

It should be noted and, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 5, there are provided suitable O-ring seals 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38 which are for sealing between the various components of the well tool in order to prevent the leakage of uid to or from the tool.

As illustrated in FIGS. lA, 1B, and 5, the inflatable element 13 includes the outer covering 13', a continuous layer of reinforcing 13", and an inner layer 13". The rein-forcing layer 13" could be formed of any suitable material which is sutiiciently resilient so as to yield along Ithe coverings 13 and 13 adjacent thereto as inllating uid is passed into the invention 4 and which will assume its initial position after the infiating fluid is discharged from the packer. The renforcing layer 13 comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially overlapping strips which are adapted to be secured at each of the respective annular spaced heads 11 and 12 and as illustrated in FIG. 5. Each of the heads 11 and 12 are provided with inner tapered portions such as that illustrated at 39 on annular spaced head 12 to aid in gripping and holding the ends 40' and 41 of the expansible reinforcing sheath 13". An annular wedge member 42 is adapted to be received within each of the heads 11 and 12, and each is provided with a tapered portion which conforms generally to the tapered portion such as illustrated at 39 on annular spaced heads 11 and 12 to aid in engaging and holding the reinforcing in position during expansion of the packer.

Each end portion of the inner layer 13', which is usually a rubber inner tube or the like, retains the iniiating uid and is telescopically received within the annular wedge .members 42. The annular wedge members 42 are each provided with a groove 44 so that ring seal members 45 and 46 may be inserted into each end of the layer 13" and expanded radially thereagainst. The layer 13' seats in the grooves 44 to further aid in retaining the inner layer in position within the annular wedge members 42.

The valve means 23 inhibits actuation of the inflating element 13 by any fluid which would be carried in the casing 5 as the tool is lowered into the well bore and continues to prevent actuation of the inatable ele-ment 13 until sufficient internal pressure has been supplied to actuate each of the valves 23a, 23b, and 23e` so that fluid may thereafter be conducted to the interior of the element 13.

When the packer has been lowered a sufiicient amount or to the desired elevation in the well, fluid -may be pumped into the pipe 5 from the earths surface Whereupon the internal pressure of the fluid in the casing 5 is increased a sufficient amount to actuate the valves 23a, 23b, and 23e` to permit uid to enter the passage 21a to inate or expand the element 13 into engagement with the wall of the well as illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 12. When the inflatable element 13 expands, the collar or sub 16 will move downwardly along the outer surface 5a of the casing 5; and seal means 16a sealingly engage the outer surface of the casing to prevent undesired Huid leakage as the inflatable element travels along the external casing, or liner. The external casing packer is expanded until it is firmly seated and sealed against the adjacent formation.

The present invention has many variations and adaptations that may be used therewith, some of which are illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 12. In FIG. 6, a well bore is illustrated generally at 3; and its surface is represented at 3a. The external casing packer forming part of the present invention is illustrated by the numeral 4 and is shown as being supported on external casing 5 or the like which extends to the earths surface. Thus, in FIG. 6 there is illustrated an external casing packer 4 in iniiated position to seal off between the casing and well bore. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the present invention permits maximum casing recovery wherein one of the inatable packers 4 is used to separate a formation for testing thereof as generally represented at `60 by perforating the zone by means well known in the art to see if the formation S is a pay zone and if there is insufcient pay in the formation S, the packer may be then perforated as shown at 61 and the casing can be removed thus allowing maximum recovery ofthe casing.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the present invention also allows multi-stage cementing. Several zones S' which are not necessarily producing zones may be encountered in a well bore, and if the complete hole is cemented from top to bottom, some formation may break down causing a great loss of cement. With the present invention 4, a plurality of separate sections of the well bore may be cemented with cement `C and set as illustrated in FIG. 7 to thereby isolate, protect, or separate the formation S' from the other portions of the well bore. Thus, the external casing packers may be used to straddle the zone and the casing then cemented above the upper packer and below the lower packer and thereby reduce the amount of cement used.

Of course, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the zone S' could be an undesired zone such as a water zone with producing sections above and below the undesired water zone. The packers could be set or inflated with cement or other materials which set upon the passage of time or by chemical reaction, and thereby S could be straddled and the producing zones above and below the undesired zone could then be used while the water or S' zone is permanently sealed olf.

If the producing zone is a sensitive zone, that is, one which is sensitive to cement, then the producing zone could be isolated by the straddle arrangement of FIG. 7 and cement placed above and below the inflated elements represented generally at 4. In this situation, S' of FIG. 7 would represent the producing zone which is to be protected from the cement; and, of course, the casing would be provided with openings for receiving ilow from the zone S.

Of course, it is to be understood that any number of the external casing packers may be used in a multistage arrangement to separate various zones.

It should also be noted that with the use of the present invention and as brought out above, the inflatable packers may be used to isolate zones between casing and the formation which means that cement alone will not have to be depended on, as has been the case in most instances heretofore. The inilatable packer itself might be inflated with cement or other materials as noted above. Also, the present invention acts as a hydraulic centralizer in that it forces the casing to the center of the bore hole and thereby aids in insuring a uniform layer of cement surrounding the casing, or liner.

The present invention is also especially adaptable for use with air drilling. If, in air drilling, water is encountered and cannot be plugged or stopped with chemicals, the external casing packer could be run in on a casing to isolate the water zone or zones; and drilling with air could proceed. Also, if desired, the casing could be recovered after the well is completed by perforating the inatable element as heretofore described.

In other words, the present invention enables air drilling to co-ntinue even after hitting a water formation; and heretofore when a water formation has been encountered which could not be shut off, the drilling operations would then be continued using drilling mud, thereby resulting in drilling at a slower rate.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the present invention may be used as a bottom pack-oil? shoe, which term is well known in the art. Where drilling in a proven area, the well bore is sometimes drilled to the top of a pay section S"; and in other instances, the well bore is drilled through the producing section S". If the pay section is sensitive, that is, is weak and fractures easily due to hydraulic pressure from the cementing operation, the inflatable packer could be set as illustrated in FIG. 8 with the inflatable packer 4 permanently seated in a position immediately above the sensitive formation or pay zone S to isolate the zone S from the cement C so that the 8 cement will not aiect the sensitive formation. Where the well bore is drilled initially only to the top of the producing zone, the packer 4 is set and drilling then continued through zone S.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the external casing packer 4 may be used to solve problems involving production, injection, gas control, or water control. The well bore 3 in many open hole sections is larger than the casing bore 5 which requires an external casing packer 4 for sealing between the casing 5 and the Well bore 3. When a liner as represented at 70 is desired to be set above a producing one which has been shot, which terms are Well kno-wn in the art, it is usually necessary to ll the shot hole with gravel to prevent cement from entering lthe shot hole and then later washing the gravel out. However, as illustrated in FIG. 9, this is eliminated with the use of the external casing packer 4 because the cement C" need only be set between the liner 70 and the casing 5 and between the liner 70 and well bore wall 3a since the external casing packer 4 may be used to seal between the liner 70 and the well bore wall 3a which, as illustrated, prevents the cement from traveling into the shot hole. The casing 5 is shown as terminating in a casing shoe, which is well known in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, sections of prepacked liners 70', 70, and 70' can be isolated for selective production or injection without the use of cement. A liner hanger of any suitable form well known in the art represented at 71 is used to hang the liner represented at 70 from the casing 5, and as illustrated, a plurality of prepacked liners 70', 70", and 70" are isolated from each other by the use of the external casing packers 4. The casing 5 is provided with a casing shoe at its lower end of any well-known design.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the external casing packer 4 may be used as a combination liner hanger and packolf. The packer 4 will center the liner 70 and provide a pack-0E between the liner 70 and casing 5. Cement C is provided for cementing casing 5 in place in the well bore. Thereafter, the external packer is mounted on a liner and lowered through the casing to its desired position in the well bore. The external packer 4 is inflated and supports the weight of screen liner 72 secured to the conventional liner 70. Since the external packer 4 sets with pressure rather than weight, this application is good for short liners where the weight of the liner is insufcient to set conventional liner hangers and pack-off assemblies as is well known in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, a plurality of external casing packers 4 may be used `for sealing off a casing, or liner, that is damaged in the well bore. The external casing packers 4 are run with blank liners (a tubular member) 74 to straddle the casing 5 at the point of damage represented at 5 of the casing. This repair method is particularly applicable to split casing, corrosion leaks, closing olf depleted zones, and temporarily or permanently closing perforations.

Broadly, the present invention relates to an external packer arrangement which can be incorporated integrally with a casing, or liner, for engaging and sealing olf between a casing and liner or for sealing olf between a casing, or liner, and adjacent formation and its method of use.

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable packer for positioning externally of a tubular member in a bore hole comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced collars positioned circumferentially on a section of the tubular member,

(b) a pair of spaced annular heads secured to each of said collars,

(c) an inflatable member secured to each of said heads and extending adjacent the section of the tubular member,

(d) an expansible reinforcing sheath secured to each of said heads and positioned outwardly relative to said inflatable member,

(e) one of said collars being secured to the tubular member and having passage means therein for conducting inilating Ifluid from the interior of said tubular member to the exterior of said tubular member and within said inflatable member for inflating said inflatable member with fluid from the tubular member; and

(f) said one collar having at least one externally accessible valve pocket which interrupts the passage means.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including a resilient outer cover positioned outwardly relative to said reinforcing sheath and secured to each of said heads.

3. The str-ucture of claim 1 including externally accessible valve means positioned in the valve pocket to inhibit fluid flow through said passage means until the fluid pressure in said passage means exceeds a predetermined amount.

4. An inflatable packer for positioning externally of a tubular member in a bore hole comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced collars positioned circumferentially on a section of the tubular member,

(b) a pair of spaced annular heads secured to each of said collars,

(c) an inflatable member secured to each of said heads and extending adjacent the section of the tubular member,

(d) an expansible reinforcing sheath secured to each of said heads and positioned outwardly relative to said inflatable member,

5. The structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said spring operated check valve means is constructedso that the inilating iluid pressure aids in retaining said check valve means closed after the inflatable member is inflated to thereby lock the infiating `fluid in said inflatable member.

6. A well tool for inserting in a bore hole externally of pipe or the like comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced heads surrounding a section of the pipe,

(b) an inflatable member secured to and extending between said heads and surrounding the outer surfaces of the pipe,

(c) an expansible reinforcing sheath concentric with said inflatable member and secured to said spaced heads for reinforcing said inflatable member,

(d) a collar secured to the pipe section,

(e) one of said heads being secured to said collar and said collar having passage means therethrough communicating with said inflatable member for communicating fluid from the interior of said pipe section to the interior of said inflatable member surrounding said outer surface, and

(f) externally accessible check valve means within said collar and in said passage to close after said inflatable member has been inflated to prevent escape of the inllating fluid.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the other of said heads is slidable along said section of pipe as said inflatable member inflates.

8. The structure as set forth in claim 6 including a resilient outer cover concentric with said reinforcing sheath and secured to said spaced heads.

9. The structure of claim 6 including seal means in the other of said heads slidably engaging the lOuter surface of said pipe as said inflatable member is inflated to engage the wall of the bore hole.

10. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said valve means includes:

(a) a pair of spring-loaded check valve means to prevent fluid flow from said passage means into the pipe section,

(b) additional valve means in said passage means, and

(c) shear pin means closing said additional valve means until the fluid pressure in said passage means shears said pin.

11. A method of isolating, separating, and lprotecting various earthen formations in a well bore comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a selected number of reinforced iuflatable elements on a pipe,

(b) positioning valve means in the pipe to communicate nfiating fluid to the elements,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflat the elements,

(d) lowering the pipe into the well bore to position the inflatable elements at a selected elevation, and

(e) creating a fluid pressure in the pipe in excess of the valve settings whereby the valves may be opened and the inflatable elements inflated with fluid to seal with the well bore to isolate or separate selected formations in the well bore.

12. A method of using an inflatable element for testing a zone in a well bore comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning the inflatable element on the pipe,

(b) positioning a valve means in the pipe to communicate inflatng fluid to the element,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflat the element,

(d) lowering the pipe into the well bore,

(c) positioning the element in the well bore wherein the inflatable element is spaced to isolate the zone for testing,

(f) creating a fluid pressure in the pipe in excess of the valve setting whereby the valve means may be opened and the inflatable element inflated with fluid,

(g) testing the isolated zone, and

(h) perforating the inflated element whereby thepipe and element may be recovered from the well bore.

13. A method of using an inflatable element for producing a zone in a well bore comprising the step of:

(a) positioning the reinforced inflatable element on the Plpe,

(b) positioning a valve means in the pipe to communicate inllating fluid to the element,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflate the element,

(d) lowering the pipe into the well bore,

(e) positioning the element in the well bore wherein the inflatable element is spaced to isolate the zone for producing,

(f) creating a -iluid pressure in the pipe in excess of the valve setting whereby the valve means may be opened and the inflatable element inflated with fluid, and

(g) communicating the isolated zone with the pipe below the inflatable element for producing therefrom.

14. In an inflatable packer for positioning on the extergal surface of a tubular member to be inserted in a well ore:

(a) a valve collar threadedly secured between adjacent joints of the tubular member,

(b) an inflatable member secured to said valve collar and positioned adjacent the external surface of the tubular member, and

(c) pressure operated check valve means mounted within the wall of said valve collar Ifor controlling fluid flow from the inside of the tubular member to said inflatable member whereby said member becomes sufficiently inflated to form a seal between the casing and the well bore.

15. The structure as set forth in claim 14 including:

(a) a movable seal spaced from said valve collar and sealingly engaged on the external surface of the casing and mounted with said inflatable member whereby the inflation of said member causes said seal to move along the casing and wherein said seal remains sealingly engaged with the casing during movement.

16. In an inflatable packer for positioning on the external surface of a tubular member to be inserted in a well bore:

(a) a valve collar threadedly secured in the casing,

(b) an inflatable element secured to said collar and surrounding the external surface of said casing,

(c) valve means within the wall of said valve collar for controlling communication of fluid between the interior of said casing and the interior of said element, and

(d) said inflatable element including seal means for sealingly engaging the external surface of said casing and for inhibiting -fluid leakage as said element is inflated.

17. The method of permanently positioning an inflatable element on a bore hole pipe comprising the steps of:

(a) threadedly securing a valve collar in the bore hole pipe,

(b) securing one end of an inflatable element which surrounds the pipe to the valve collar,

(c) positioning valve means in the collar for passing rinflating fluid from the pipe to the inflatable element,

(d) positioning the pipe and element thereon in a bore hole, and

(e) increasing the fluid pressure in the pipe to inflate the element and permanently set the inflatable element in the bore hole.

18. A method of repairing a damaged portion of a tubular member in a well bore comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning spaced reinforced inflatable elements on a second tubular member,

(b) positioning valve-means on the second tubular member adjacent the inflatable elements,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflate the element,

(d) lowering the second tubular member with `the spaced inflatable elements within the tubular member to be repaired so that the second tubular member with the spaced inflatable elements span the damaged portion of the tubular member to be repaired, and

(e) creating a fluid pressure within the tubular members in excess of the valve setting whereby the valve means may be opened and the inflatable elements inflated with fluid to seal against the tubular member to be repaired, and permanently seal off the damaged portion.

19. A method of selectively cementing zones in a well bore comprising the steps of (a) positioning a selected number of reinforced inflatable elements at predetermined spaced intervals on a pipe,

(b) positioning a valve means in the pipe to communicate inflating fluid to each of the elements,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflate the element,

(d) lowering the pipe into the well bore,

(e) positioning the pipe in the well bore to position the inflatable elements in relation to the zones to be cemented, Y

(f) creating a fluid pressure in the pipe in excess of the valve setting whereby the valve means may be opened and the inflatable elements inflated with fluid to seal against the well bore wall and isolate the zones to be cemented; and

(g) placing cement in the selected zones that are isolated by the inflatable elements.

20. A method of sealing oil between zones in a well bore comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning at least one reinforced inflatable element on a pipe,

(b) positioning a valve means in the pipe to communicate inflating fluid to the element,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflate the element, (d) lowering the pipe into the well bore, (e) positioning the inflatable element adjacent the zone in the well bore to be sealed ofr' from other well bore zones, and

(f) creating a fluid pressure in the pipe in excess of the valve setting whereby the valve means may be opened and the inflatable element inflated with fluid to seal against the well bore wall and thereby separate or isolate the Zone adjacent the inflatable element from other well bore zones.

21. A method of setting a bottom pack-oil shoe in a pipe in a well bore adjacent a producing formation in 15 the well bore comprising the steps of (a) positioning a reinforced inflatable element on the plpe,

(b) positioning a valve means in the pipe to communicate inilating fluid to the element,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflate the element,

(d) lowering the pipe into the well bore,

(e) positioning the element in the well bore above the producing formation,

(f) creating a fluid pressure in the pipe in excess of the valve setting whereby the valve means may be opened and the inflatable element inflated with fluid to seal off between the pipe and surrounding well bore, and

(g) injecting cement into the well bore annulus above the inflated element.

22. An inflatable packer for positioning externally of a tubular member in a bore hole comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced collars positioned circumferentially on a section of the tubular member,

(b) a pair of spaced annular heads secured to each of said collars,

(c) an inflatable member secured to each of said heads and extending adjacent the section of the tubular member,

(d) an expansible reinforcing sheath secured to each of said heads and positioned outwardly relative to said inflatable member,

(e) one of said collars being secured to the tubular member and having passage means therein for conducting inflating fluid from the interior of said tubular member to the exterior of said tubular member and within said inflatable member for inflating said inflatable member with fluid from the tubular member; and

(f) said one collar having a plurality of valve pockets within said one collar which interrupt the passage means.

23. An inflatable packer for positioning externally of a tubular member in a bore hole comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced collars positioned circumferentially on a section of the tubular member,

(b) a pair of spaced annular heads secured to each of said collars,

(c) an inflatable member secured to each of said heads and extending adjacent the section of the tubular member,

(d) an expansible reinforcing sheath secured to each of said heads and positioned outwardly relative to said inflatable member,

(c) one of said collars being secured to the tubular member and having passage means therein for conducting inflating fluid from the interior of said tubular member to the exterior of said tubular member and within said inflatable member for inflating said inflatable member with fluid from the tubular member; and

I(f) a plurality of valve means within said one collar wall and in the passage means to control. fluid flow therethrough.

24. An inilatable packer for positioning externally of a tubular member in a bore hole comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced collars positioned circumferentially on a section of the tubular member,

(b) a pair of spaced annular heads secured to each of said collars,

(c) an inflatable member secured to each of said heads and extending adjacent the section of the tubular member,

(d) an expansible reinforcing sheath secured to each of said heads and positioned outwardly relative to said inflatable member,

(e) one of said collars being secured to the tubular member and having passage means therein for conducting inllating fluid from the interior of said tubular member to the exterior of said tubular member and within said inflatable member for inilating said inflatable member with fluid from the tubular member; and

(f) valve means within said one collar wall and in the passage means to control fluid flow therethrough.

25. A method of employing an inflatable element in a well bore comprising the steps of:

(a) forming `a tubular member string made up of any combination of at least one each of screen liner, liner and inflatable element,

(b) positioning a valve means in the formed string to communicate inflating fluid to the element,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflate the element,

(d) lowering the formed string into position in a well bore; and

`(e) creating a fluid pressure in the well bore in excess of the valve setting whereby the valve means may be Opened and the inflatable element inflated with fluid to position the string in the well bore.

26. A method of employing an inflatable element in a well bore comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a tubular member string made up of a liner, screen liner, and inflatable element,

(b) positioning a valve means in the formed string to communicate inllating fluid to the element,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflate the element,

(d) lowering the formed string into position in a well bore, and

(e) creating a fluid pressure in the `well bore in excess of the valve setting whereby the valve means may be opened and the inflatable element inflated with fluid to position the string in the well bore.

27. A method of employing an inflatable element in a well bore having a casing therein comprising the steps (a) forming a tubular member string made up of a liner and an inflatable element,

(b) positioning a valve means in the formed string to communicate inllating fluid to the element,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflate the element,

(d) lowering the formed string into position in a Well bore; and

(e) creating a fluid pressure in the well bore in excess of the valve setting whereby the Valve means may be opened and the inflatable element inflated with fluid to position the string in the well bore.

28. A method of employing an inflatable element in a well bore comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a tubular member string made up of any combination of at least one of each of a prepacked liner, liner and inflatable element,

(b) positioning a valve means in the formed string to communicate inflating fluid to the element,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflate the element,

(d) lowering the formed string into position in a well bore; and

(e) creating a fluid pressure in the well bore in excess of the valve setting whereby the valve means may be opened and the inflatable element inflated with fluid to position the string in the well bore.

29. A method of setting a liner in a well bore cornprising the steps of:

(a) forming a tubular member string made up of a liner and an inflatable element,

(b) positioning a valve means in the formed string to communicate inflating fluid to the element,

(c) adjusting the valve means to open at a predetermined fluid pressure and thereby inflate the element,

(d) lowering the formed string into position in a Well bore; and

(e) creating a fluid pressure in the well bore in excess of the valve setting whereby the vale means may be opened and the inflatable element inflated with fluid to position the string in the well bore.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,177,601 10/1939 Smith 166-187 X 2,778,432 l/'1957 Allen 166-187 X 2,978,046 4/1961 True 166-187 X 3,035,639 5/1962 Brown et al. 166-187 X 3,053,322 9/1962 Kline 166-187X 3,085,628 4/1963 Malone 277-34 3,160,211 12/1964 Malone 166--187 JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,437,142 April 8, 1969 George E. Conover It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column l, line l2, "casing tubular member or liners in bore holes" shoul read casing, tubular members or liners in bore holes after line l3 ins Background of the Invention l. Field of the Invention same column l, line 22, before 11".'Description of the prior art" insert 2. Column 5, line 43, "vlave" should read valve Column 9, after line 30 insert:

(e) one of said collars being secured to the tubular member and having passage means therein for conducting inflating fluid from the interior of saic tubular member to the exterior of said tubular member and within said inflatak member for inflating said inflatable member with fluid from the tubular membe:

(f) externally accessible, spring-oaded check valve means inhibiting fluid flow from said passage means into the tubular member,

(gf) additional valve means in said passage means, and

(h) shear pin means holding said additional Valve means in closed position, said shear pin shearing when the fluid pressure in said passage means reaches a predetermined amount so that said additional valve means unseats to enable fluid to flow to said inflatable element for inflation thereof.

Column lO, lines l2 and 26, "inflat", each occurrence, should read inflate Column 14, line 37, "Vale" should read Valve Signed and sealed this 7th day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

